Bon Appetit cafes to forgo pigs housed in cramped cages

Female breeding pigs in so-called gestation crates. Bon Appetit, which manages cafes, says it will ask suppliers to stop using the cages.

Female breeding pigs in so-called gestation crates. Bon Appetit, which manages cafes, says it will ask suppliers to stop using the cages. (Humane Society of the United States)

Tiffany Hsu

Animal rights activists are winning ever more concessions from major companies on the issue of cramped cages for pigs -- this time from cafe company Bon Appetit Management.

Bon Appetit, which operates more than 400 cafes in 31 states -- including on EBay’s campus, at the University of Pennsylvania and at the Getty Center -- said Tuesday that it would ban pork from providers who continue to use so-called gestation crates to house hogs.

The company also said it would take its 11 million whole eggs each year from hens living in open farms instead of those kept in battery cages. Bon Appetit cafes also will stop serving foie gras and veal from crate-confined calves.

And at least one-quarter of its meat, poultry and egg purchases will come from producers with at least one animal welfare certification, it said.

The changes -- which are to be phased in by the end of 2015 -- met with the expected approval from the Humane Society of the United States, with which Bon Appetit made its statement.

Earlier this month, Spam maker Hormel Foods Corp. said it would stop using gestation crates by 2017. McDonald’s Corp. said that by May, its suppliers must offer plans to phase out the crates.